LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After completing only the second perfect season in Kentucky state history, Louisville Male starts No. 1 in Thursday’s first USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 poll of the 2020 season.
Male, which went 39-0 and outscored its opponents 338-39 last year, leapfrogged both Neshoba Central and Norco in the last ranking of the season. They had much closer games in the state finals, but still managed to win all three contests, beating Boyle County, 4-0, in the quarterfinal; edging Clay County, 2-1, in eight innings, in the semis; and topping Warren East, 6-1, in the championship.
Male has now won 45 of their last 46 games, dating back to May 2018. Greenwood, which went 44-0 in 2013, recorded the only other undefeated season since Kentucky started playing fastpitch softball in 1995. The Bulldogs open the 2020 season on March 21 at South Warren.
Among teams that have started their season, No. 2 Lakewood Ranch (6-0), No. 3 Norco (7-0) and fourth-ranked Forney (11-0) stand out. Lakewood Ranch finished last season 30-1 and sixth in the final poll, while Norco was 31-1 and third. Forney, meanwhile, was 29-4 a year ago and was ranked 24th to close the 2019 season.
Norco looks to defend its Dave Kops Tournament of Champions title starting today in Bullhead, Ariz.
State rankings submitted by NFCA member coaches are used to compile the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25. Teams are chosen based on performance, roster quality and strength of schedule.
USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 Poll – March 5, 2020
|
Rank |
Team |
2020 Record |
|
1 |
Louisville Male (Ky.) |
0-0 |
|
2 |
Lakewood Ranch (Fla.) |
6-0 |
|
3 |
Norco (Calif.) |
7-0 |
|
4 |
Forney (Texas) |
11-0 |
|
5 |
Winter Springs (Fla.) |
6-0 |
|
6 |
Neshoba Central (Miss.) |
4-0 |
|
7 |
Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) |
4-0-1 |
|
8 |
Spain Park (Ala.) |
9-0 |
|
9 |
Cabot (Ark.) |
2-0 |
|
10 |
Foothill (Pleasanton, Calif.) |
2-1 |
|
11 |
Shawnee Heights (Kan.) |
0-0 |
|
12 |
Hartsville (S.C.). |
0-0 |
|
13 |
Oshkosh North (Wis.) |
0-0 |
|
14 |
New Palestine (Ind.) |
0-0 |
|
15 |
Williamsville East (N.Y.) |
0-0 |
|
16 |
Keystone (Ohio) |
0-0 |
|
17 |
Ridgeview (Redmond, Ore.) |
0-0 |
|
18 |
Clarksville (Tenn.) |
0-0 |
|
19 |
Donovan Catholic (N.J.) |
0-0 |
|
20 |
Pine Grove (Pa.) |
0-0 |
|
21 |
St. Joseph (Conn.) |
0-0 |
|
22 |
Jackson (Wash.) |
0-0 |
|
23 |
Marist (Ill.) |
0-0 |
|
24 |
St. John Vianney (N.J.) |
0-0 |
|
25 |
Immaculate Heart Acad. (N.J.) |
0-0 |
